7 Days Bhutan Haa Valley – Durkgyel Trek (Easy)

Note:

• Please note that booking for this itinerary has to adhere to the departure day in the week as advised below due to Druk Air flight schedule.
• For this itinerary, you have to depart on a SUNDAY and return on a WEDNESDAY.
• There is a 45 minutes in-flight transit in Kolkotta both ways.

DrukAir

Sunday | Singapore – Paro   KB 501 | 0630/0945

Thursday | Singapore – Paro   KB 501 | 0630/0945

—

Wednesday | Paro – Singapore   KB 500 | 0720/1515

Saturday | Paro – Singapore   KB 500 | 0720/1515

All info are act as a guide and are correct as of time of publication.
Please check directly on airline website for latest flight schedules.

Region: Haa
Trek Type: Camping
Trek Grade: Easy – Moderate
Trek Days: 2.5
Max Altitude: 3235m
Best Season: Oct-Mid Dec & Mid Mar-May

Check in at airport Druk Air counter with your air ticket, passport and Bhutan visa. On this flight, you can see breathtaking views of the Great Himalaya as you start approaching Bhutan. Arrive at Paro International Airport. You will be required to show your Bhutan visa again as part of the immigration process. After which your guide will meet and welcome you and transfer to hotel. Check in and Lunch.

Paro Rinchen Pong Dzong
This massive fortress is located in the Paro valley and is approached by a gently sloping flagstone road and a beautiful covered wooden bridge and guard houses. Today, the Dzong is the Administrative seat of the district of Paro and it also contains a state monastic community of about 200 monks. The central tower (Utse) of the Dzong, is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with its superb woodwork. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D.

Paro Town
The charming small town of Paro lies on the banks of the Paro Chhu, just a short distance northwest of the imposing Paro Dzong. The main street is lined with colourfully painted wooden shop fronts and restaurants. It is nice to explore this quaint Bhutanese town leisurely at the end of a day of sightseeing.

Evening back to hotel and dinner.

After breakfast drive 1.5 hours to Haa Valley via Chele La Pass (3988m). Once you reach the top of the pass, you can see the beautiful manificent mountain view. Have cup of hot tea there and enjoy the view. After that drive continue drive to Haa Valley.

Paro Haa Valley
The Haa Valley is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life.You will have simple lunch at Haa and visit Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) & Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple). Take a leisure walk along the village of Haa, take in the fresh air and simply enjoy the slow pace of life.

After that continue another 30 minutes’ drive to Yangtong – our first campsite. Yangtong camp is located in a meadow next to the Haa Chu. There is a chorten with a flag hoisted in the honor of the local protecting deity, ‘the Powferful Chhundu’.

After breakfast start trek. From Yangtong a steep climb (150m) leads to Yangtong Gompa Village, set on a hilltop right above the camp. The big temple, surrounded by a few houses, is about 300 years old and dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and his eight manifestations.

A more or less level trail through pines brings you back to the main trails to the valley below Sagala. Here the Makhang Chu flows through the area called Talung. Talung has three beautiful villages – Chenka Gom, Tsenka Wom and Langlo – about 80 households in all.The trail winds about farmlands fenced with piles of stones to protect the field from deer and wild boar. Climb to a wooden bridge, Chagdo Zam (‘iron bridge’), so named because locals claim that the 14th Century saint Thangthong Gyelpo (the iron bridge builder in Bhutan) constructed the original one.

Cross more meadows and some forest until you reach a rock with twin eyes and distorted mouth. This is the Nyela Doem or Nyela Demon, who was subdued by saint Thangthong Gyelpo using the sword of ignorance (reydee) to slash the demon’s mouth and turn it into a rock. Ever since then travellers and using this ancient trail have walked in peace without fearing this ferocious demon. This holy rock is located in the Khadey Gom (the upper Khadey) meadow, where tonight’s camp is situated.

Today the climb to Saga La is on the programme. A gradual hike for about 1 hr through meadows and coniferous forest is followed by the 2hr climb to the pass. It is customary to take a gift for the pass, either pick up a rock or break off a twig/flower to pile it on the mini stupa (chorten) built by thousands of former travelers.

Once on top of Saga La (3720m), shout ‘Lhagyelo’ (May God always win over evil’) and you will be blessed. On a clear day there is a fantastic view on the both sides of the pass. The view towards Paro (east) includes scared mountains Jomolhari (23,993ft/7315m), Chaterake (18270ft/5570m) and below is the valley the Drukgyel Dzong and scared Taktshang monastery.

Looking to the west the peaks of Haa forming the border with Tibet can be seen. From the pass it is all downhills. Beware of loose gravel and boulders on the trail. A good two hours downhill hike through mixed conifer forests and rhododendrons will bring you to the camp in an open meadow at Dongney Tsho, surrounded with tall firs. To the left is the black Choshola mountain: a holy place from which a lake is escaped.

The first part of today’s hike is steeply down for about 1.5 hrs until you reach the Genchu Zam (bridge). The hike is through thick vegetations, and laughing thrushes, magepies, nutcrackers and pheasants are often seen.

There is a beautiful small village comprised of eight households and a temple on the left side of the trail: Chodeyphu, set picturesquely at the base of the mountain Laump Bjara (“Foggy Mountain” inhabited by mountain goats). Another one hour from this village will take you to Balakha Chhu where the ancient Haa Planters’ Trail ends. Pick up and transfer to Thimpu. There are unpaved vehicle road reaches up to Sangnachokor. Upon arrival check in hotel. Evening rest. Thimpu is capital city of current Bhutan.

Thimphu Town
Explore Thimphu town at leisure.You can purchase world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from general post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank.

Thimphu Dzong (only after 4pm)
The main Secretariat Building. This massive structure houses part of the Ministries, the office of the King and the Throne Room. It also houses the State Monastic Body and the living quarters of the Chief Abbot.

Evening back to hotel for dinner and rest.

After breakfast, we set off for Paro on the way visit short visit:

Memorial Chorten
A huge stupa built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned the Kingdom from 1952-1972.After drive (2 hrs) to the hiking start point of Taktsang.

Taktsang Monastery (4 hours round hike)
The name Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest”. The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800m. and overlooks the Paro Valley and river. It is believed during the second half of the 8th century Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan, meditated at the spot where the monastery is situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress. A round trip hike takes about 4 hrs. You have the option of hiring a horse or do a partial hike if you feel not up to a full hike.

Evening check in hotel, have dinner and rest.

After breakfast transfer to Paro Airport for departure.